Sonic the Hedgehog Fanfiction
by Dustin Lawson (dustinman77@hotmail.com)
Sonic, Tails, Sally, Rotor, Bunnie, Evil Sally, etc. are (c) Sega, Archie Comics, and Dic. Used by me! without permission, since... oh, geez, it's a fanfic!
Damien, Enosh, Simone, and Callista are my characters (and so is Evil Sally, basically, since the Archie comic never expanded on her character in the least); please do not use them without permission. Thanx. Bane is (c)Bane Keldare.
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SonicWorlds
Chapter 6
"Readjusting"
¤¤§¤¤
It was almost beautiful. The way it moved; slow, fluid, glowing softly, the only light in the cavern. It almost seemed like it was alive...
Tails felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and found himself looking up at the kind, smiling face of Princess Sally.
"Oh, hi, Aunt Sally," he said, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his own mouth.
She sat down on the rock next to him, drawing her knees up under her chin. "What's going through your mind, Miles?"
He started to protest to the mention of his real name, but only sighed. "...the other Sally."
"Ahh." She nodded, closing her eyes. "You think we should let her go."
"Well, yeah, kinda... but that's not what I was thinking about."
Sally looked at him for a long moment, then her eyes widened a bit with realization. "You love her... don't you?"
"I don't know, Aunt Sally, I... I just don't know."
Sally released her knees, scooting over toward him. "Tails," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder again, "you're not old enough. You're not ready for love yet." She chuckled slightly. "I'm not even ready for it, evidently..."
Suddenly, Tails did something that surprised her. He laid his head on her shoulder, clinging. She couldn't remember the last time he'd done that, but it had been quite some time. Until now, she hadn't realized that she'd missed it a little. She rubbed his shoulder soothingly.
"Don't worry, Tails... I'm sure she feels for you, too."
Tails's voice came a bit strained. "You really think so?"
"She saved you from Simone, didn't she?" Sally sighed. "I don't know what to make of her. She's been a pain in the neck since we've known her, but now... now she acts like she's turned."
She looked down at the pool of magma, felt the warmth radiating off of it, saw the dim glow it continuously gave off as it flowed around itself. "That's so pretty..."
"I know," Tails said, his head lifting to look at it as well. "I found this cavern down here a few days ago."
"Just because the volcano is dormant doesn't mean it has no magma, eh, Tails?" She smiled. "It looks like a formless creature, almost."
"I was thinking the same thing, Aunt Sally." He hugged her tightly before letting go and sitting up.
"Well, we'd better get to the meeting," Sally said, standing up on the rock. "We have to decide what to do about all this."
"Yeah."
As they walked toward the stairs leading out of the cavern and back up to the main hallway, Sally placed her arm around his shoulders. She had almost forgotten how good it could feel to play the role of a parent. Tails had seemingly outgrown the need for his surrogate mother a while ago, but evidently, he was still somewhat of a boy inside. She didn't know whether to shelter him or to set him free anymore. She would simply have to watch and wait for a sign.
¤¤§¤¤
"Ahem."
They all looked up to Sonic, slightly startled by his clearing his throat. "If you don't mind," he said, "I'm kinda hungry, and we're not saying anything."
"No," Sally said firmly. "We do not leave this room until this is all resolved."
"Then let's resolve! Let her go, and she can come eat with us. I'm starving!"
"Sonic!"
Sonic let out an exasperated breath, looking away. He began drumming his fingers on the table.
"Would you stop that?" Damien said.
"Oh, sor-ree, Mr. Metaldude." He folded his arms. "This is so boring, Princess."
"I'm sorry it doesn't amuse you, but we have to figure out what to do with her."
"I'm telling you, she'll be fine," Tails said, shaking his head. "Let Callista talk to her. Maybe she can use her good powers to help."
Callista shook her head as well. "I am afraid things are not so simplistic, young one. I cannot force the darkness from the heart of one that placed it there themselves."
"What if she just had a bad childhood? She could've lived on the streets or something... maybe her parents were mean to her, or got divorced. She didn't have to make herself bad."
"Either way, 'tisn't any form of enchantment or hypnosis. I cannot break a spell that does not exist."
Tails sighed deeply. "Then let me talk to her. It looked like she trusts me."
"What about her power?" Damien put in. "She's not exactly your average girl. She could overpower you."
"I'm willing to risk it. Besides, I'm sure you guys can take her down if she does." An idea seemed to dawn on him. "Hey, what if Bane helped her learn how to use her power?"
Bane looked up, startled at the mention of his name. "Oh, no, you don't. I don't know that much about my own power, let alone train someone with more than me."
"At least you know enough to get her started. And Callista could help, too; she may not know dark magics, but she knows a lot about magic, right?"
Bane and Callista sighed in unison.
"It's the only good suggestion I've heard in the past hour," Sally said, "and I'm beginning to get as hungry as Sonic acts. Tails, Bane and Callista are now in charge of Evil Sally. Whether or not she can be turned is up to you guys, now."
They all saluted with a "Yes, Your Majesty." Tails was the only one that did it with enthusiasm, however.
"Very good," Sally said, banging a gavel. "Meeting adjourned."
"Finally!" Sonic raced out the door, turning in the direction of the mess hall.
Tails tugged excitedly at Bane and Callista's hands, forcing them to walk down the hall toward their fate at a slightly faster pace than they would've preferred.
Sally shook her head. "Like a lovesick puppy."
¤¤§¤¤
Rotor looked over the project rising before him. Though he'd only been building it according to the specifications, it was still quite a feat. He was glad that he was able to accomplish it, given the few details. She was certainly no scientist, but she did have quite a mind.
Suddenly Damien walked in. "Rotor, I would have words with you."
"Oh?" He put down his laser torch and stood. "What about?"
"An upgrade... I'm having trouble with my... what's that thing?" He pointed to the half-covered mechanical creation.
"Nothing," Rotor said, pulling the tarp completely over it. "Let's talk in the lunchroom. I'm about ready for a fish sandwich."
"Alright."
Rotor was asking him about his problems as they walked out the door, it sliding shut behind them.
They should've waited a few minutes.
The small radio on the workbench near one of the many closets suddenly sputtered to life. The voice on the radio was amazingly familiar.
"...body there? Hello? Dangit, why won't this stupid gizmo work?"
Another voice, faintly, as if in the background. "Anything?" came the higher timbre of a familiar female.
"No. It's not working, Sal... man, it's too easy to call you that."
"It's okay... try another frequency."
"Alright... Rotor? Bunnie? Chuck? Anybody got the..."
Then the voices were gone.
¤¤§¤¤
Evil Sally paced up and down behind the wall of the shimmering force field, pausing every few minutes to glare at her warden.
"There ain't no use givin' me dirty looks, shuga," Bunnie said from her chair, pausing in the reading of her romance novel. "I ain't the one that put ya in heah."
"So?" she said, turning to stare at her evenly. "I'm still in a cage, even though I saved the brat. No gratitude."
"Thank ya kindly, deah," she replied sweetly.
The dark squirrel gritted her teeth and went back to pacing.
Just then the door opened with a swoosh, and in walked Tails, dragging the wizardress and the dark hedgehog behind him.
"Sirs?" Bunnie said, laying her book on the table.
"Sally's request, Bunnie," Tails said. "We're here on business."
"Alrighty," she said, shrugging and going back to her book.
They walked over to the force field, and Sally stopped to stare at them, eyelids half-closed. Tails looked kind of anxious, the woman's expression was unreadable, and the black-furred hedgehog looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
"Well, well. Time for my execution, or is that tomorrow?"
"Sally..." Tails said.
"Sorry, I left my daily planner in my other orange jumpsuit." Indeed, her drafty hospital gown was gone, replaced by the standard orange garb of a prisoner.
Tails looked apologetic. "Sorry, I don't know what happened to your leather."
"Well, at least they gave me something." She folded her arms. "So, what are you here for, to stare at the circus freak?"
"Kinda," the dark one said. The lady nudged him. "What?"
"Shh," she said. Then she turned to Evil Sally. "We have come to aid you in your newfound abilities, young one."
"YOUNG?!" she shouted, defiant. "I'm the same age as you are, ya airhead!"
"And just as mature, I see," the hedgehog commented sarcastically, earning another elbow from the wizardress.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," she went on. "I am Princess Callista, High Wizardress of Mobitopia." She bowed slightly.
"I'm Bane," he said simply.
The dark squirrel's eyes widened in mock surprise. "What? No high-and-mighty title for you?"
"Prince of Mobius," he answered, annoyed slightly.
Evil Sally rolled her eyes. "And I'm Sally, Duchess of Disaster. Pfft, royalty."
"Please, Sally," Tails said. "We're only here to help."
She looked over at him ready with another snide comment, but it died on her lips. She couldn't say anything like that while those dark brown eyes were on her. She looked away quickly, sighing. "Fine. Help like how?"
Tails smiled slightly as Callista spoke. "For how long have you known of your magical abilities?"
"Uh, since two days ago, when I blasted the heck outta that-"
"It's okay," Bane said, trying to quell her brewing anger. "We were there."
"Actually, I did use my 'magic' on those morons guarding your little meeting," she said with arrogance. "Try to stop Sally Acorn, huh? Fat chance of that."
"What happened, though?" Tails asked. "What made your powers wake up?"
"I... don't know," she said, her attitude softening slightly. "I just couldn't let her Simone get me again. She was gonna off me for failing the mission, or... or enslave me again." Her voice got very quiet. "I can't go back to that. Ever."
Callista cleared her throat before continuing. "Well, err... it appears as though your innate ability is still very much a mystery to you, my child."
"Mystery?" she responded, attitude back as suddenly as it had left. "No, a mystery is a Lilian Jackson Braun novel. I'm completely bewildered, here!"
"We know, we know," Bane said. "I'm sure you are. I wish I could say I felt the same when I found out, but I was trained in the black arts since I can remember."
"Lucky you."
"I'm sorry, young one," Callista said. "I was also trained since infancy. High Wizard Charles picked up on the gift in my second year, and taught me in the ways through to adulthood."
"Hooray. Where was he when I was little, huh?" Her voice was almost angry now. "Why couldn't he have shown me how to do that flashy crap? Maybe then I wouldn't have had to watch my family fall apart. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to wish we had food, eating while my mom starved. Maybe then I wouldn't have fallen in with that creep Sonic and his rowdy gang of losers. With that kinda stuff, I coulda got anything we needed, and we'd be fine." She slid down the wall and buried her face in her arms. "I can't cry. Geez, I'm such a wuss." Despite her efforts, a few sniffles could be heard through her arms.
Tails motioned to Bunnie to turn off the field. The wall of barely visable energy flashed brilliantly, then disappeared. The young fox approached Sally cautiously, and knelt in front of her. "Sally?"
Her head raised up enough for him to be able to see her face, and him only. He could see the wetness in the fur directly under her deep blue eyes, which were shimmering a bit from the tears. "Get out, please," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm weak, I... I can't be like this in front of people."
Tails put his hand on her shoulder. "Why not? It's okay to cry, you know."
"Not for me," she said, her face toughening slightly, though the tears continued to fall. "I've had to be the tough one since my dad left. He took my brother with him. I had to be mommie's little trooper, and I can't stop now. I have to keep at it, Tails."
"You are strong," he said, "but everybody has feelings. I know what you're going through... kinda."
"Look around," she said angrily. "All these people like you. I don't have anybody like that."
"You knew your mother, didn't you?"
Sally hesitated. "Yeah... why?"
"I didn't really," Tails said softly. "I never even saw my father, as Robotnik roboticized him before I got the chance. It didn't take him much longer 'til he got my mother, too."
"Hey, that sucks, okay? At least you had friends to take you in. That other Sal acts enough like your mom, anyway. I never really had friends, not unless you count those bums that run around with Sonic." She bit her lip, half-laughing, still half-crying. "Those dorks don't count as friends. They don't care. I don't think I could have any real ones... they wouldn't want trash like me in their 'circle' or whatever, anyway. No, not for me."
Tails sat for an uncertain moment. She tried to read him, but could only wait for a reaction. Then he suddenly embraced her tenderly, rubbing her back through the prison clothes.
"You have me, Sally. Always will."
She sat stock still for quite a while, then slowly returned the hug. Callista motioned to the other two in the room, and they filed out, leaving Tails to comfort the little sorceress.
¤¤§¤¤
"So this is it, right under here?"
Rotor looked up from his instrument panel. "Yep, that's it. Still in the experimental stages, but all the main components are there." He chuckled. "Just have to hook them all up right."
"So I assume it's not operational, yet."
"Not quite, but it won't take much more tweaking, Princess. Most of it's busy work, so if you let me enlist Uncle Chuck..."
She sighed. "I guess if you need him. This just has to be confidential, you know. If it got back to father or anybody..."
"I know, Princess... they'd stop you. I'm not too crazy about it, either, but orders are orders."
Princess Sally smiled. "Finally... I won't be in the way."
¤¤§¤¤
the end
(chapter 7 will
exist)
by Dustin Lawson (dustinman77@hotmail.com)
Sonic, Tails, Sally, Rotor, Bunnie, Evil Sally, etc. are (c) Sega, Archie Comics, and Dic. Used by me! without permission, since... oh, geez, it's a fanfic!
Damien, Enosh, Simone, and Callista are my characters (and so is Evil Sally, basically, since the Archie comic never expanded on her character in the least); please do not use them without permission. Thanx. Bane is (c)Bane Keldare.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SonicWorlds
Chapter 6
"Readjusting"
¤¤§¤¤
It was almost beautiful. The way it moved; slow, fluid, glowing softly, the only light in the cavern. It almost seemed like it was alive...
Tails felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and found himself looking up at the kind, smiling face of Princess Sally.
"Oh, hi, Aunt Sally," he said, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his own mouth.
She sat down on the rock next to him, drawing her knees up under her chin. "What's going through your mind, Miles?"
He started to protest to the mention of his real name, but only sighed. "...the other Sally."
"Ahh." She nodded, closing her eyes. "You think we should let her go."
"Well, yeah, kinda... but that's not what I was thinking about."
Sally looked at him for a long moment, then her eyes widened a bit with realization. "You love her... don't you?"
"I don't know, Aunt Sally, I... I just don't know."
Sally released her knees, scooting over toward him. "Tails," she said, putting her hand on his shoulder again, "you're not old enough. You're not ready for love yet." She chuckled slightly. "I'm not even ready for it, evidently..."
Suddenly, Tails did something that surprised her. He laid his head on her shoulder, clinging. She couldn't remember the last time he'd done that, but it had been quite some time. Until now, she hadn't realized that she'd missed it a little. She rubbed his shoulder soothingly.
"Don't worry, Tails... I'm sure she feels for you, too."
Tails's voice came a bit strained. "You really think so?"
"She saved you from Simone, didn't she?" Sally sighed. "I don't know what to make of her. She's been a pain in the neck since we've known her, but now... now she acts like she's turned."
She looked down at the pool of magma, felt the warmth radiating off of it, saw the dim glow it continuously gave off as it flowed around itself. "That's so pretty..."
"I know," Tails said, his head lifting to look at it as well. "I found this cavern down here a few days ago."
"Just because the volcano is dormant doesn't mean it has no magma, eh, Tails?" She smiled. "It looks like a formless creature, almost."
"I was thinking the same thing, Aunt Sally." He hugged her tightly before letting go and sitting up.
"Well, we'd better get to the meeting," Sally said, standing up on the rock. "We have to decide what to do about all this."
"Yeah."
As they walked toward the stairs leading out of the cavern and back up to the main hallway, Sally placed her arm around his shoulders. She had almost forgotten how good it could feel to play the role of a parent. Tails had seemingly outgrown the need for his surrogate mother a while ago, but evidently, he was still somewhat of a boy inside. She didn't know whether to shelter him or to set him free anymore. She would simply have to watch and wait for a sign.
¤¤§¤¤
"Ahem."
They all looked up to Sonic, slightly startled by his clearing his throat. "If you don't mind," he said, "I'm kinda hungry, and we're not saying anything."
"No," Sally said firmly. "We do not leave this room until this is all resolved."
"Then let's resolve! Let her go, and she can come eat with us. I'm starving!"
"Sonic!"
Sonic let out an exasperated breath, looking away. He began drumming his fingers on the table.
"Would you stop that?" Damien said.
"Oh, sor-ree, Mr. Metaldude." He folded his arms. "This is so boring, Princess."
"I'm sorry it doesn't amuse you, but we have to figure out what to do with her."
"I'm telling you, she'll be fine," Tails said, shaking his head. "Let Callista talk to her. Maybe she can use her good powers to help."
Callista shook her head as well. "I am afraid things are not so simplistic, young one. I cannot force the darkness from the heart of one that placed it there themselves."
"What if she just had a bad childhood? She could've lived on the streets or something... maybe her parents were mean to her, or got divorced. She didn't have to make herself bad."
"Either way, 'tisn't any form of enchantment or hypnosis. I cannot break a spell that does not exist."
Tails sighed deeply. "Then let me talk to her. It looked like she trusts me."
"What about her power?" Damien put in. "She's not exactly your average girl. She could overpower you."
"I'm willing to risk it. Besides, I'm sure you guys can take her down if she does." An idea seemed to dawn on him. "Hey, what if Bane helped her learn how to use her power?"
Bane looked up, startled at the mention of his name. "Oh, no, you don't. I don't know that much about my own power, let alone train someone with more than me."
"At least you know enough to get her started. And Callista could help, too; she may not know dark magics, but she knows a lot about magic, right?"
Bane and Callista sighed in unison.
"It's the only good suggestion I've heard in the past hour," Sally said, "and I'm beginning to get as hungry as Sonic acts. Tails, Bane and Callista are now in charge of Evil Sally. Whether or not she can be turned is up to you guys, now."
They all saluted with a "Yes, Your Majesty." Tails was the only one that did it with enthusiasm, however.
"Very good," Sally said, banging a gavel. "Meeting adjourned."
"Finally!" Sonic raced out the door, turning in the direction of the mess hall.
Tails tugged excitedly at Bane and Callista's hands, forcing them to walk down the hall toward their fate at a slightly faster pace than they would've preferred.
Sally shook her head. "Like a lovesick puppy."
¤¤§¤¤
Rotor looked over the project rising before him. Though he'd only been building it according to the specifications, it was still quite a feat. He was glad that he was able to accomplish it, given the few details. She was certainly no scientist, but she did have quite a mind.
Suddenly Damien walked in. "Rotor, I would have words with you."
"Oh?" He put down his laser torch and stood. "What about?"
"An upgrade... I'm having trouble with my... what's that thing?" He pointed to the half-covered mechanical creation.
"Nothing," Rotor said, pulling the tarp completely over it. "Let's talk in the lunchroom. I'm about ready for a fish sandwich."
"Alright."
Rotor was asking him about his problems as they walked out the door, it sliding shut behind them.
They should've waited a few minutes.
The small radio on the workbench near one of the many closets suddenly sputtered to life. The voice on the radio was amazingly familiar.
"...body there? Hello? Dangit, why won't this stupid gizmo work?"
Another voice, faintly, as if in the background. "Anything?" came the higher timbre of a familiar female.
"No. It's not working, Sal... man, it's too easy to call you that."
"It's okay... try another frequency."
"Alright... Rotor? Bunnie? Chuck? Anybody got the..."
Then the voices were gone.
¤¤§¤¤
Evil Sally paced up and down behind the wall of the shimmering force field, pausing every few minutes to glare at her warden.
"There ain't no use givin' me dirty looks, shuga," Bunnie said from her chair, pausing in the reading of her romance novel. "I ain't the one that put ya in heah."
"So?" she said, turning to stare at her evenly. "I'm still in a cage, even though I saved the brat. No gratitude."
"Thank ya kindly, deah," she replied sweetly.
The dark squirrel gritted her teeth and went back to pacing.
Just then the door opened with a swoosh, and in walked Tails, dragging the wizardress and the dark hedgehog behind him.
"Sirs?" Bunnie said, laying her book on the table.
"Sally's request, Bunnie," Tails said. "We're here on business."
"Alrighty," she said, shrugging and going back to her book.
They walked over to the force field, and Sally stopped to stare at them, eyelids half-closed. Tails looked kind of anxious, the woman's expression was unreadable, and the black-furred hedgehog looked like he'd rather be somewhere else.
"Well, well. Time for my execution, or is that tomorrow?"
"Sally..." Tails said.
"Sorry, I left my daily planner in my other orange jumpsuit." Indeed, her drafty hospital gown was gone, replaced by the standard orange garb of a prisoner.
Tails looked apologetic. "Sorry, I don't know what happened to your leather."
"Well, at least they gave me something." She folded her arms. "So, what are you here for, to stare at the circus freak?"
"Kinda," the dark one said. The lady nudged him. "What?"
"Shh," she said. Then she turned to Evil Sally. "We have come to aid you in your newfound abilities, young one."
"YOUNG?!" she shouted, defiant. "I'm the same age as you are, ya airhead!"
"And just as mature, I see," the hedgehog commented sarcastically, earning another elbow from the wizardress.
"Allow us to introduce ourselves," she went on. "I am Princess Callista, High Wizardress of Mobitopia." She bowed slightly.
"I'm Bane," he said simply.
The dark squirrel's eyes widened in mock surprise. "What? No high-and-mighty title for you?"
"Prince of Mobius," he answered, annoyed slightly.
Evil Sally rolled her eyes. "And I'm Sally, Duchess of Disaster. Pfft, royalty."
"Please, Sally," Tails said. "We're only here to help."
She looked over at him ready with another snide comment, but it died on her lips. She couldn't say anything like that while those dark brown eyes were on her. She looked away quickly, sighing. "Fine. Help like how?"
Tails smiled slightly as Callista spoke. "For how long have you known of your magical abilities?"
"Uh, since two days ago, when I blasted the heck outta that-"
"It's okay," Bane said, trying to quell her brewing anger. "We were there."
"Actually, I did use my 'magic' on those morons guarding your little meeting," she said with arrogance. "Try to stop Sally Acorn, huh? Fat chance of that."
"What happened, though?" Tails asked. "What made your powers wake up?"
"I... don't know," she said, her attitude softening slightly. "I just couldn't let her Simone get me again. She was gonna off me for failing the mission, or... or enslave me again." Her voice got very quiet. "I can't go back to that. Ever."
Callista cleared her throat before continuing. "Well, err... it appears as though your innate ability is still very much a mystery to you, my child."
"Mystery?" she responded, attitude back as suddenly as it had left. "No, a mystery is a Lilian Jackson Braun novel. I'm completely bewildered, here!"
"We know, we know," Bane said. "I'm sure you are. I wish I could say I felt the same when I found out, but I was trained in the black arts since I can remember."
"Lucky you."
"I'm sorry, young one," Callista said. "I was also trained since infancy. High Wizard Charles picked up on the gift in my second year, and taught me in the ways through to adulthood."
"Hooray. Where was he when I was little, huh?" Her voice was almost angry now. "Why couldn't he have shown me how to do that flashy crap? Maybe then I wouldn't have had to watch my family fall apart. Maybe then I wouldn't have had to wish we had food, eating while my mom starved. Maybe then I wouldn't have fallen in with that creep Sonic and his rowdy gang of losers. With that kinda stuff, I coulda got anything we needed, and we'd be fine." She slid down the wall and buried her face in her arms. "I can't cry. Geez, I'm such a wuss." Despite her efforts, a few sniffles could be heard through her arms.
Tails motioned to Bunnie to turn off the field. The wall of barely visable energy flashed brilliantly, then disappeared. The young fox approached Sally cautiously, and knelt in front of her. "Sally?"
Her head raised up enough for him to be able to see her face, and him only. He could see the wetness in the fur directly under her deep blue eyes, which were shimmering a bit from the tears. "Get out, please," she said, her voice breaking. "I'm weak, I... I can't be like this in front of people."
Tails put his hand on her shoulder. "Why not? It's okay to cry, you know."
"Not for me," she said, her face toughening slightly, though the tears continued to fall. "I've had to be the tough one since my dad left. He took my brother with him. I had to be mommie's little trooper, and I can't stop now. I have to keep at it, Tails."
"You are strong," he said, "but everybody has feelings. I know what you're going through... kinda."
"Look around," she said angrily. "All these people like you. I don't have anybody like that."
"You knew your mother, didn't you?"
Sally hesitated. "Yeah... why?"
"I didn't really," Tails said softly. "I never even saw my father, as Robotnik roboticized him before I got the chance. It didn't take him much longer 'til he got my mother, too."
"Hey, that sucks, okay? At least you had friends to take you in. That other Sal acts enough like your mom, anyway. I never really had friends, not unless you count those bums that run around with Sonic." She bit her lip, half-laughing, still half-crying. "Those dorks don't count as friends. They don't care. I don't think I could have any real ones... they wouldn't want trash like me in their 'circle' or whatever, anyway. No, not for me."
Tails sat for an uncertain moment. She tried to read him, but could only wait for a reaction. Then he suddenly embraced her tenderly, rubbing her back through the prison clothes.
"You have me, Sally. Always will."
She sat stock still for quite a while, then slowly returned the hug. Callista motioned to the other two in the room, and they filed out, leaving Tails to comfort the little sorceress.
¤¤§¤¤
"So this is it, right under here?"
Rotor looked up from his instrument panel. "Yep, that's it. Still in the experimental stages, but all the main components are there." He chuckled. "Just have to hook them all up right."
"So I assume it's not operational, yet."
"Not quite, but it won't take much more tweaking, Princess. Most of it's busy work, so if you let me enlist Uncle Chuck..."
She sighed. "I guess if you need him. This just has to be confidential, you know. If it got back to father or anybody..."
"I know, Princess... they'd stop you. I'm not too crazy about it, either, but orders are orders."
Princess Sally smiled. "Finally... I won't be in the way."
¤¤§¤¤
the end
(chapter 7 will
exist)